Saturday, April 12, 2008

Olympic torch relay: Bangkok kow-tows to Beijing

The Chinese embassy has called for tight security measures in Thailand to fend off possible protests by pro-Tibet activists during the Olympic torch relay in Bangkok, diplomatic and security sources said yesterday.

It also asked Thai security officials to keep special surveillance on three particular groups the Falungong cult, pro-Tibet and pro-Taiwan movements the sources said.

The 150-member Chinese delegation, including its own blue-white security force, will arrive in Bangkok next Friday with the torch.


Thai officials responsible for the event held talks yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, who chaired the meeting, said protesters from overseas would be blocked from entering the country during the relay period. Authorities will be deployed to secure the event, he added.
India told Beijing to bugger off with its onerous security demands concerning the relay in New Delhi. Not Thailand. Thailand says it will allow Beijing to dictate its customs and immigration policy. As Fonzi predicted in March, "The Thai government, of course, will do everything to appease the Chinese. . . ."

1 comment:

  1. India appeared to be standing up to the Chinese government a few days ago , but then look what happened - 15,000 police, 150 demonstrators arrested, lockdown of the whole area, public banned, and the same special Chinese torch guards we've seen everywhere else.

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